Quote

Telling teachers exactly what to do and then holding them “accountable” for the results does not reflect a commitment to excellence. It reflects a commitment to an outmoded, top-down model of control that is reminiscent of Frederick Taylor’s “scientific management” method for speeding up factory production. Is it really surprising that this approach tends to backfire? The factory offers one of many examples outside education where people often rely on power to try to compel certain results. Those higher up in a hierarchy attempt to maximize efficiency by tightly controlling the actions of those down below. Unfortunately, we humans just don’t respond very well when people do things to us rather than working with us.

Quote ID: 00758

Author

Alfie Kohn

Source

The Schools Our Children Deserve

Our quote collection is searchable! Use the search box to find what you’re seeking.